Shloka 23

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

वर्षेष्व् एतेषु तान् पुत्रान् अभिषिच्य स भूपतिः सालग्रामं महापुण्यं मैत्रेय तपसे ययौ

Transliteration

varṣeṣv eteṣu tān putrān abhiṣicya sa bhūpatiḥ sālagrāmaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ maitreya tapase yayau

Translation

Having anointed his sons as rulers over these several varṣas, that king—O Maitreya—departed to the supremely holy Śālagrāma to pursue austerity.

Word by Word

• वर्षेषु: in the varṣas/regions
• वर्षेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; अधिकरणे (Locative plural; in the regions)

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; विशेषणवत् सर्वनाम (Locative plural; ‘in these’)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (Masc acc pl; ‘those/them’)

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; कर्म (Accusative plural; sons)

• अभिषिच्य: having anointed
• अभिषिच्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थ), ‘अभिषिच्य’ = क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (Gerund; ‘having anointed’)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Masc nom sg; ‘he’)

• भूपतिः: the king
• भूपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूः पातिः/भूयाः पति:) (Masc nom sg; king)

• सालग्रामम्: to Śālagrāma (place)
• सालग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (Accusative singular; place/name)

• महापुण्यम्: very holy
• महापुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महत् पुण्यम्) विशेषणम् (Neuter acc sg; ‘very holy’)

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन (Vocative singular)

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (Dative singular; for austerity)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परोक्षभूत (Perfect 3rd sg; ‘went’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Cosmography and the disposition of Priyavrata’s descendants/regions

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas (regions)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After fulfilling worldly dharma, the wise turn toward tapas and God-centered realization, seeking a higher sovereignty over the self.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Complete responsibilities conscientiously, then cultivate disciplined spiritual practice (japa, study, pilgrimage, seva) with reduced attachment.

Vishishtadvaita: Renunciation culminates not in voidness but in surrender to Nārāyaṇa present in sacred forms (śālagrāma), affirming personal theism with immanence.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: वैराग्य (renunciation after duty)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• King (Bhupati)
• Sālagrāma

FAQs

What is the significance of Śālagrāma in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse Śālagrāma is called “mahāpuṇya,” marking it as an exceptionally sacred Viṣṇu-associated tirtha where even a king seeks spiritual attainment through austerity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the transition from kingship to renunciation here?

Parāśara presents an ordered handover—sons are anointed to maintain dharmic governance—after which the king withdraws to tapas, showing that worldly sovereignty is ideally subordinated to spiritual purpose.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By emphasizing Śālagrāma’s supreme sanctity, the verse points to Viṣṇu as the highest refuge: political authority is temporary, while proximity to Viṣṇu (through a holy seat like Śālagrāma) supports liberation-oriented discipline.